Folding umbrella



Dec. 2, 1941.. M. L. C. G. HERBIN 2,264,881

FOLDING UMBRELLA Filed July 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIVTFR:

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M. L. C. G. HERBIN FOLDING UMBRELLA 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1'7, 1959 -M. L. C. G. HERBIN FOLDING UMBRELLA Dec. 2, 1941.

FiledJul y 17, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HHHHHHHHHHHM r w. HH .H .HW

Patented Dec. 2, 1 941 srsnr OFFICE FOLDING UMBRELLA Marie Louis Camille Georges Herbin, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,852

In France July 20, 1938 l Claims. (Cl. 135-25) The present invention relates to a folding umbrella of the type in which the slide to which are pivoted the forks comes to lie, upon folding, against the head member to which are pivoted the ribs. The main object of the invention is to provide an umbrella of this type, which may be folded for being placed into a very small flat case which may be easily carried about in the pocket, in a bag or even in a portfolio. This umbrella is characterised by the fact that the slide and head members consist in long, for instance substantially rectangular parts of a just sufiicient width for permitting the forks and ribs to be pivoted and arranged in two groups at either ends of the slide and head members respectively while forming, when in the unfolded position, equal angles with one another.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribs consist in pivoted portions, the pivoting pins connecting these portions to one another and to the corresponding forks being arranged along such directions that the portions of each rib come to lie next to one another in a plane parallel to the common middle longitudinal plane of the head and slide members in two comparatively flat groups arranged on either side of the central transverse plane of the slide and head members, Without projecting laterally beyond these two members.

A number of embodiments are described below by way of example and represented on the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 shows the middle part of the frame or skeleton of the umbrella according to the invention, in the open position,

Figures 2 and 3 are plan views of the head and slide members respectively,

Figure 4 is a transverse section through a rib, showing the part for pivoting the rib to the fork,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the frame in folded condition.

Figures 6 and 7 show the folded frame in plan view and elevation respectively,

Figure 8 shows a handle of the umbrella stem in the form of a case for receiving the frame in folded condition,

Figure 9 illustrates a fragmentary View of the handle,

Figures 10 and 11 are plan views of an alternative embodiment of the slide and head members respectively,

Figure 12 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of a very flat slide member,

the umtion in its case.

As seen in Figure 1, the frame of the umbrella according to the invention comprises a head member' I and a slide member 2 consisting in elongated pieces, at both ends of which are pivoted the ribs 3, 3', 3", 4, 4, 4 and the forks 5, 5', 5", 6, 6, 6" respectively, these parts having for instance a square cross-section and forming two compact groups on either side of the transverse middle plane xa: common to the head and slide members I and 2 (Figures 2 and 3), so as to occupy, in the folded position, the narrowest possible space. The pivoting points are distributed in a manner that the ribs 3, 3, 3", 4,414" form between one another, in the unfolded position, equal angles. The inner face of the head member I is provided with a threaded rod 1 while the slide member 2 has a central bore for the handle, constituted by rod portions such as 8, 8' screwed into one another and on the threaded rod 1 of the head member. Upon folding, the slide 2 is freed from the springs by which it is held, in the usual manner, in the opened position, and displaced upwardly in the direction of the arrow of Figure 1, so that the umbrella will fold in a turned over position, with the head member and the ribs enclosed between the forks (Figure 5). In order to permit this folding, the'slide 2 is slightly longer than the head member I and the forks 5, 5', 5", 6, 6', 6" are longer than the portions 3, 3, 3", 4, 4', 4" of the ribs comprised between the head member I and the pivoting points of the corresponding forks. For the pivoting of the ribs and forks to the head member and to the slide in the above manner, these pieces are provided as usual with a peripheral groove 9 or H! and with notches such as H, H, H, l2, l2, 12" (Figures 2 and 3) engaged by the fiat ends of the ribs and forks, which are apertured and threaded upon a wire I 3 or I 4 clamped in the groove 9 or II], the notches being distributed into two groups at the ends of the parts I and 2 and set in such directions that they will nevertheless form equal angles between them. 7

Beyond the portions 3 and 4 pivoted to the forks, the ribs consist in a number of portions, preferably of the same length as the first, such as [5, I (Figure 5), all these portions being pivoted or hinged to one another. In the case where the portions forming the ribs are joined as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the joints are made so that all the portions of each rib will lie, in the folded position, next to one another in a plane parallel to the longitudinal middle plane Y'Y (Figures 2 and 3) common to the head and slide members. To this effect, there are two pivots and a flat connecting member l1 (Figures 1 and 5) pivoted in l8, l9 to the ends of the two adjacent portions. For securing the pivots in the position of use of the umbrella in order to permit the latter to be used open or carried closed under ones arm, the rib portions are provided with sliding sleeves 20 which are pushed for covering the pivots in the unfolded position after the successive portions of each rib have been placed in the extended position with respect to one another. A spring or pawl 42, fixed to the last portion, at this moment engages an aperture formed near the end of the last sliding sleeve and thus sets up the rigidity of the rib by fixing the position of the sleeves 20.

In order to enable the forks 5, 5', 5 and 6, 6', 6" to come to lie, in the folded position, in planes parallel with the middle longitudinal plane YY of the head and slide members next to the corresponding rib portions 3, 3, 3 and 4, 4', 4", and not in radial planes, the slide member is made longer than the head member and the portions of the lateral ribs 3', 3" and 4, 4" are pivoted to their forks 5, 5 and 6, 6" by means of parts 2! (Figures 1 and 4) comprising a bent tongue 22 to which is riveted the pivoting pin 23, these pivots permitting the forks 5, 6', 5", 6", as shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, to come to lie against the rib portions 3'4, 3"4". The portions 3, 4 of the middle ribs are, on the contrary, connected to their forks 5, 5 by ordinary straight parts 24', 25, and this arrangement may further also be adopted for the lateral forks 5, 5" and 6, 6 in the case where a small increase in width is not objectionable.

Instead of being screwed to one another, the portions 8, 8' of the handle may be assembled by conical hinges or, preferably, as represented in Figure 9, by means of a square hinge and a pawl, one end of each portion being provided with an engaging spring 26 provided with a boss 21 engaging a groove 28 formed in a tube with a square cross-section 29 fixed to the end of the other portion. The spring 26 is provided with a push member 30 arranged at the back of the boss 21 so that when it is pushed down,,the engagement of the parts 21, 28 will be easily set free; The same pawl engaging device of the bracelet type may also be used for connecting the rib portions [5, 16 which would then be distinct from one another and adapted for being placed separately into the case.

In Figure 8 is shown a handle 3| of the stem, made in the form of a hollow box, for instance of thin metal, provided on one hand with two compartments 32, 32' arranged on either side of the stem base 33 and adapted to receive the frame folded according to Figure '7, and further comprising two other compartments 34, 34 adapted to serve as a housing for the disconnected, portions of the stem.

The stem may further advantageously consist (Figures 14-16), like the middle ribs 3 visible in Figures 1, 5 and 7, in a number of portions of square cross-section connected to one another by a link and two pivots, which may be rigidly kept in the produced direction of one another by sleeves sliding over the said portions and brought to cover the connecting pieces. In this case, at the base of the upper end head member is pivoted a connecting piece 43 of a length equal to the width of the three ribs folded together as seen in Figure '7, in the direction of the middle longitudinal plane YY. At the lower end of this connecting piece 43 is pivoted the first portion 44 of the stem; thus, this portion 44 may fold exactly on the outside against this set of three ribs; its length is equal to that of the said three ribs folded together. Similarly, the two following portions 45, 46 are provided after the first; their connecting pieces 41, 48 have just the sufficient length for the various portions to come to lie next to one another in the folded position. The last portion 56, ended by the handle 51, is connected by a; double pivot 49, which is somewhat longer than the first, in order to leave in the folded position a place for the wider handle 5!. Figure 17 shows the entirely folded frame engaged in the lower part 60 of the case. On each of the said square portions is arranged a sliding square tube extending nearly from one end to the other. For unfolding the handle and holding it in the upright position, the sleeve 44 of the first portion 4 1 is slid up to the head member I (Figure 15); in this position, it is maintained by the spring 44" which engages a recess of said sleeve. The following sleeves 45', 46' are similarly pushed upwards; each one advances by an amount equal to that of the preceding one increased by the amount by which it was separated from the latter. Thus, the hollow handle 5|, which was retained by the spring 52, is advanced for covering the double pivot 49 and will engage the spring 53.

In the alternative embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the overall thickness is further reduced by making the head and slide members in two parts 35, 35 and 36, 36 which are dismounted and assembled along the longitudinal middle plane of these parts. This device is particularly applicable in the case where it is desired to construct an umbrella comprising a greater number of ribs, for instance eight or ten, in which case the device of Figures 1 to 5 would not permit to reduce the thickness by the required amount.

Lastly, as represented in Figure 12, the thickness of the head and slide members may further be decreased by offsetting in the longitudinal direction of these parts the lateral notches H, H" and l2, 12 of each group while maintaining their relative directions.

As represented in Figure 13, the umbrella according to the invention may be easily housed, due to its reduced thickness when folded, in a portfolio 3'! comprising a compartment 38 for the folded frame and for the separated portions of the handle, and a compartment 39 for the other articles usually carried in the portfolio.

The umbrella cloth is taken off the frame before folding, the cloth being provided with a central ring adapted to be fixed to the head member, and with peripheric rings which are hung to the ends of the ribs, or with press buttons.

What I claim is:

1. Folding umbrella comprising a head member consisting in an elongated piece of small width, a slide member consisting in an elongated piece of a shape similar to that of the head member and adapted to come to lie against the head member upon folding, ribs and forks distributed into two groups and pivoted respectively to one another and to the ends of these two members, the pivots of the ribs and forks to the head and slide members respectively being arranged in a manner that the ribs and forks form with respect to one another, in the open position, equal angles.

2. Folding umbrella comprising a head member consisting in an elongated piece of small width, ribs pivoted to this head member and distributed in two groups arranged at both ends of the head member, a slide member of a form similar to that of the head member but longer than the latter and adapted to come into contact with the head member upon folding, forks also distributed in two groups and pivoted on one hand to the ribs and on the other hand to the ends of the slide member, these forks having a greater length than that of the part of the ribs comprised between the head member and the pivot of said forks, the pivots of the ribs and forks to the head and slide members respectively being arranged in a manner that the ribs and forks form with respect to one another, in the open position, equal angles.

3. Folding umbrella comprising a head member consisting in an elongated piece of small width, ribs pivoted to this head member and distributed in two groups arranged at both ends of the head member, a slide member of a form similar to that of the head member but longer than the latter and adapted to come into contact with the head member upon folding, forks also distributed in two groups and pivoted on one hand to the ribs and on the other hand to the ends of the slide member, these forks having a greater length than that of the part of the ribs comprised between the head member and the pivot of said forks, means for pivoting laterally the forks arranged outside the middle longitudinal plane of the slide on the corresponding ribs, said means comprising pieces having tongues bent out of the radial pivoting plane of the ribs and comprising a pivot set in a manner th'at in the folded position the fork will come to lie next to the corresponding rib in a plane parallel with the middle longitudinal plane common to the head and slide members, the pivots of the ribs and forks to the head and slide members respectively being arranged in a manner that the ribs and forks form with respect to one another, in the open position, equal angles.

4. Umbrella according to claim 3, in which the ribs consist in a number of foldable portions of the same length and comprise, for pivoting these portions to one another, connecting parts with double pivots provided with pivoting pins arranged in such a manner that for the middle ribs these pins shall be, and that for the lateral ribs the pins shall come to lie, after folding the first portion against the stem, perpendicular to the middle longitudinal plane common to the head and slide members in a manner that these portions shall come to lie, in the folded position, next to oneanother in a plane parallel'to said longitudinal middle plane, sliding sleeves mounted on the pivoted portions constituting the ribs for maintaining the said pivots in the unfolded position.

5. Umbrella according to claim 3, in which the ribs consist in a number of foldable portions of the same length and comprise, for pivoting these portions to one another, connecting parts with double pivots provided with pivoting pins arranged in such a manner th'at for the middle ribs these pins shall be, and that for the lateral ribs the pins shall come to lie, after folding the first portion against the stem, perpendicular to the middle longitudinal plane common to the head and slide members in a manner that these portions shall come to lie, in the folded position, next to one another in a plane parallel to said longitudinal middle plane, sliding sleeves mounted on the pivoted portions constituting the ribs for maintaining the said pivots in the unfolded position, a stem consisting in a number of portions, means for removably fixing on the head member the first portion of the stem, a handle fixed to the last portion, means for pivoting these portions to one another in a manner to fold them against one another next to one of the groups of the folded ribs, these latter means comprising between two adjacent portions of the stem a connecting piece with a double pivot, the piece connecting the first portion, fixed to the head member, to the next having a length equal to the thickness of the portions of one rib folded against one another, and the piece connecting the last portion, carrying the handle, to the preceding portion having a length sufficient for permitting the folding of this handle, sliding sleeves mounted on these portions for rigidly maintaining their pivots in the unfolded position.

MARIE LOUIS CAMIILE.

GEORGES HEREIN. 

